XOXO MODULAR HI JACK User manual

Brand: XOXO MODULAR

Model: HI JACK

Type: User manual

XOXO MODULAR HI JACK is a breakout board that allows you to measure and view electrical signals passing through audio and patch cables. It comes with three complete breakout boards, each featuring stereo TRS jacks and test points for easy connection to a multimeter or oscilloscope. Use it to measure voltage offsets, view waveforms, or add jacks to a breadboard circuit.

Manual v1.0 // Hi, Jack! v1.0 xoxomodular.com 1

Hi, Jack! Build Guide

Hi, Jack! is a breakout board that helps you spy on the

electrical signals coursing through the tip/ring/sleeve of your

audio and patch cables. Connect a multimeter to the test

points on the board and you’re able to measure the voltage at

those points. The Hi, Jack! kit includes everything you need to

make three complete breakout boards. Use the included test

points to make connections or solder a pin header of your own

in place to attach Hi, Jack! to a breadboard.

Required Tools

1. Flush cutters

2. Soldering iron & solder

Included with the Kit

1. Three Hi, Jack! circuit boards (on a single panel)

2. Six stereo TRS jacks

3. Nine test points

Build Instructions

Step 1: Use your flush cutters to cut the tabs, freeing one of the boards from

the panel.

Step 2: Place the two stereo jacks in the areas marked with rectangles

Step 3: Solder the jacks from the opposite side of the board. (If you’re on the

correct side of the board, you will be reading “Hi, Jack!” as you are soldering)

Step 4: Stick the included test points into whatever holes are convenient.

Step 5 (optional): If you want to use this particular breakout with a breadboard,

place a 3-pin male header inside the rounded rectangle on the opposite side of

the board and solder it in place.

Since there are three complete breakout boards, you can set each of them up

differently and use them for different purposes.

Manual v1.0 // Hi, Jack! v1.0 xoxomodular.com 2

Hi, Jack! User Manual

It makes sense to consider the Hi, Jack! board to be the middle

of a cable assembly – with a cable plugged into the left side of

the board, and a separate cable plugged into the right side.

Using this board as part of a three-part cable assembly helps

avoid plugging and unplugging “hot” cables into its jacks. A

good reason to avoid “hot swapping” mono patch cables in

these stereo jacks is that there can be a momentary shorting

of pins as the cable’s connector is inserted. Well designed

Eurorack modules should not have any issues with such a

momentary short, but a best practice is to plug a cable into Hi,

Jack! before connecting the other end of the cable to a module

or other piece of gear.

The included test points are a great way to temporarily

connect the probes of a multimeter or oscilloscope. They can

also be grabbed by alligator clips. If they’re too loose for your

liking, you can pull them out and bend them a little – or even

solder them in place.

Usage Example #1: Measuring a voltage offset

Connect the black lead of your multimeter to the Ⓡ point on the board and the

red lead to the Ⓣ point, then set your meter to measure a DC voltage. This is

handy for measuring a control voltage coming from a sequencer’s CV output or

other voltage source.

Usage Example #2: Viewing waveforms on an oscilloscope

Connect your oscilloscope’s ground clip to the Ⓡ point on the board and its X10

probe to the Ⓣ point. For a stereo cable, both the Ⓣ and Ⓢ points can be

measured since they carry the left and right audio channels. With an

oscilloscope, you can view a signal that changes over time, such as the output

of an oscillator.

Usage Example #3: Adding jacks to a breadboard circuit

By soldering a 3-pin male header to the bottom of the breakout, you can easily

access the tip, ring, and sleeve of the jacks using a breadboard. The most

practical use for this configuration is to add a single TRS jack to a breadboard

circuit (ignoring the other jack).

Manual v1.0 // Hi, Jack! v1.0 xoxomodular.com 3

NO WARRANTY

DIY kits from XOXO Modular, including the Hi, Jack! breakout kit are sold without

warranty. Users of the kit are at their own risk. XOXO Modular LLC makes no

warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, any implied

warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. XOXO Modular

LLC shall not be liable for harm to person or equipment caused through

operation of this product, or for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in

this document.

By using this product, you agree to these terms.

XOXO MODULAR HI JACK User manual

XOXO MODULAR HI JACK User manual

XOXO MODULAR HI JACK User manual

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